Ideas worth spreading

How data brokers sell your identity

193,407 views |

Madhumita Murgia |

TEDxExeter

• April 2017

When tech journalist Madhumita Murgia began researching data brokers -- companies that collect and sell individuals' personal data -- she wasn't remotely prepared for the deep, dark rabbit hole she was about to descend into. Online anonymity is dead, your smart TV is spying on you, and private companies know what Star Wars memorabilia you're looking for before you do. In this unsettling talk, Murgia details the tactics and ramifications of a multi-million dollar industry that bypasses privacy laws and leverages technology to build and sell comprehensive profiles of, well, you.

When tech journalist Madhumita Murgia began researching data brokers -- companies that collect and sell individuals' personal data -- she wasn't remotely prepared for the deep, dark rabbit hole she was about to descend into. Online anonymity is dead, your smart TV is spying on you, and private companies know what Star Wars memorabilia you're looking for before you do. In this unsettling talk, Murgia details the tactics and ramifications of a multi-million dollar industry that bypasses privacy laws and leverages technology to build and sell comprehensive profiles of, well, you.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxExeter, an independent event.

Read more about TEDx.

About the speaker

Madhumita Murgia

Journalist

Madhumita is a journalist, editor and speaker with expertise in the fields of science, health and technology. She is the European Technology Correspondent at The Financial Times.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxExeter, an independent event.

Read more about TEDx.